I'm not sure about the SW Motech skid plate, But, When I installed the SW Motech Centerstand I had to remove the charcoal canister. Of course now the website where I purchased it from says "The current design fits Canadian and European bikes only." It seems SW Motech's design team did not take the canister into consideration, mostly because the bikes they used to fit their parts didn't have the canister.
On a side note, I have not had any problems with my charcoal canister removed.

I assume you got it from Twisted Throttle ? I saw the bit about the center stand and that's what made me get the Triumph stand.

I just double-checked and there is no mention on the site about the skid plate only fitting non-USA bikes so I'm a little confused at the moment.

So, you just took the canister off - what about the tubes and stuff, what did you do with them ? What exactly does the canister DO ? I know on the XRL's about the first people do with new bikes is give it a canisterectomy so I have to think it's not a vital piece of equipment....

So, you just took the canister off - what about the tubes and stuff, what did you do with them ? What exactly does the canister DO ?

The sole purpose of the canister is to reduce the emission of unburned hydrocarbons from the bike. It does this by trapping gasoline vapors that evaporate from the gas tank. In the days before charcoal canisters, these fumes were simply vented to the atmosphere, contributing to smog.

The job of the canister is to trap these vapors, store them within the canister, and then when the engine is run the fumes are sucked into the intake manifold to be burned in the cylinders.

There is no performance penalty attached to the charcoal canister. Just a little bit of weight and a little bit of plumbing. If you do remove it, there is a probably a vacuum line you will have to plug at the throttle body.

Has anybody from the US fitted a SW Motech skid plate ? If you have, did the skid plate hit the charcoal canister ? Just tried to fit mine and there is a little lip at the back on the side where the canister is and it hits it and thus won't fit. I guess I can just bend the lip but I wanted to check with the inmates before I do that.

Cheers

Interesting... just got my SW Motech bash plate to replace my Triumph one (want more oil filter protection). Was planning to install tonight and will let you know if I have any issues. I was thinking that a bunch of guys had them installed already... maybe they were all non-U.S. bikes?

The sole purpose of the canister is to reduce the emission of unburned hydrocarbons from the bike. It does this by trapping gasoline vapors that evaporate from the gas tank. In the days before charcoal canisters, these fumes were simply vented to the atmosphere, contributing to smog.

The job of the canister is to trap these vapors, store them within the canister, and then when the engine is run the fumes are sucked into the intake manifold to be burned in the cylinders.

There is no performance penalty attached to the charcoal canister. Just a little bit of weight and a little bit of plumbing. If you do remove it, there is a probably a vacuum line you will have to plug at the throttle body.

I rode a 800 Tiger here in Oz earlier in the year. Hot conditions, fair bit of slower speed running, my bike stalled more than a few times. When we returned from the ride others were complaining of the same problem.

Since then I have ridden a shop demo bike. Cooler weather, riding on my own at highway speeds, no problem at all (except with buffeting from the screen).

You are tampering with the emission system which might be illegal. The canister is required for bikes sold in California.

Thanks

I don't live in California and to be honest, I could care less about it being illegal - it's a stupid idea to begin with (the canister was gone from my XRL when I bought it and I've had no issues with it being 'illegal').

Interesting... just got my SW Motech bash plate to replace my Triumph one (want more oil filter protection). Was planning to install tonight and will let you know if I have any issues. I was thinking that a bunch of guys had them installed already... maybe they were all non-U.S. bikes?

Please do. You'll (probably) see there is a lip that hits the canister and so it just won't fit properly. I also thought I'd seen/heard of US bikes being fitted with the SW Motech skid plate but mebbe not

I have the SW Motech bash plate fitted. While the charcoal canister was indeed a tight fit, I was able to move things around by hand with no problems.

Looks like that lip is made specifically to fit with the canister. The canister is kinda loosely and flexibly attached (secured thru a grommet at the front end and one screw at the rear) so one should be able to at least bend the bracket enough to make it fit with the bash plate.

I fitted the SW Motech crash bars today. I was a little worried that it would not give the rads enough protection but as I think the pictures will show, I don't think it will be an issue. I will say the bars are very solid and I think they'll do just fine.

Looks like that lip is made specifically to fit with the canister. The canister is kinda loosely and flexibly attached (secured thru a grommet at the front end and one screw at the rear) so one should be able to at least bend the bracket enough to make it fit with the bash plate.

You may well be right, I just didn't want to force it unless I had to return the bash plate. I'll give it another go.